Black-White Differences in the Use of Personal Advertisements for Individuals Seeking Interracial Relationships

Abstract

The study of interracial unions is valuable in understanding the nature of race relationships (Aldridge, 1978). Negative attitudes toward interracial unions from both dominant and subordinate racial group members provide for formidable psychological and emotional barriers to interracial contact, helping to maintain a racially stratified society (Lewis & Yancey, 1994-1995). Stember (1976) has argued that majority group attitudes and beliefs that negatively view interracial marriages are key components of sexual racism. Gordon (1964) stresses that widespread acceptance of biracial marriage within society is a major step in an assimilation process whereby majority and minority racial groups eventually amalgamate one another. It has been suggested that assimilation may provide a realistic way topromoteracial equality (Myrdal, 1964; Parsons, 1965-1966; Patterson, 1977). This viewpoint holds that wherever racial and cultural separation exists, misunderstanding and division canoccur. Therefore, members of other races can become alienated from each other if they do not have sufficient personal interaction. Assimilation may give the opportunity for individuals of different races to develop intimate and personal knowledge of each other and thus reduce the probability of conflict. Thus, biracial relationships may